McBride Life: Lake Break

The big ones were so excited while the little ones weren't sure what to think

I'm not sure why, but the last couple of weeks most of our plans have been unplanned -- spontaneous ideas or get-togethers that just happen to work out. Maybe it's this inspiring weather or the approaching end of summer -- I don't know. But it's great! The biggest last-minute plan we made was to take a trip with our neighbors over Labor Day to the lake. It was less than a week before and we had to look hard to find an available house on any nearby lake. I was so glad it ended up being Lake Keowee in South Carolina, which has such clean and clear water that it almost feels like the ocean.

So happy -- when allowed to roam!

We also rented a boat and it was Tyler and Austin's first time cruising the waters. Jennifer and I couldn't help but chuckle at Austin and Brayden looking a little disgruntled in their life jackets at first, but all the boys did great -- so much that we rented a boat the next day as well. We got really ambitious the second day and did an hour boat ride (each way) to these waterfalls that Jennifer and Eric had visited before, knowing that there would be quite the gathering there on labor day weekend. It was fun to anchor and hang out and even swim.

waterfalls

We had to head back pretty quickly because it was a lot to ask of the little ones, and Austin had eaten every snack I had available and then some. He was happy if I let him wander the boat, but we couldn't do that while on the go, so he ate instead. :)

Fortunately, the boys had full entertainment with each other all weekend, and it was a VERY active house of course! They played with cars (a lot!), did puzzles, helped the guys gather wood, played with the bubbles, threw rocks in the water from the house beach, swam, played ball in the drive way and much more.

We beached the boat at a swim area the first day

I think the sweetest moments were when we listened to Sebastian and Tyler talk in their room over the monitor. It was their first "sleep over" situation and I had Tyler in his pack in play like always, while Sebastian was in the twin bed. They were singing ABCs and counting together, and jumping up and down and talking about these sweet and simple things -- I even teared up at how cute they are and how much they love one another. Sebastian's older, but he's really good with Tyler, who looks up to his buddy so much. After listening to them for awhile, I finally had to move Tyler into our room each night so he'd actually settle down and sleep.

We'd intended to make s'mores with the boys, but our packed evenings didn't work out to allow it, so we did a make-shift microwave version with the kids, and then the adults had a great time around the fire later in the night. Mornings started EARLY with all of the kids waking up as soon as one was up, so we were running on fumes by day 3. Wouldn't change a thing about it, though, and made some priceless memories.